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New Cooling Technologies Could Revolutionize HVACR

New HVACR cooling innovations promise to enhance sustainability and improve energy efficiency. 




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New Technology Can Decompose Refrigerants

A new technology has been developed that can decompose refrigerants, using a catalyst made from industrial waste called “red mud.'’ 




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The Future of Refrigeration: Adapting HVACR Training for CO₂ Technologies

As the industry continues to evolve, it’s essential for HVACR contractors to embrace comprehensive training programs that address both foundational knowledge and hands-on experience with CO2 systems.




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CEO of SENSIT Technologies Wins Business Worldwide Magazine Award

The CEO awards program seeks to honor C-level executives from around the world and across multiple industries, focusing on the personalities who drive successful corporations and organizations.




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Changing Compressor Technology

The move to A2L refrigerants means compressors in new a/c and heat pump systems will have different features than older models. Three compressor manufacturers say they’re prepared.




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The Digitalization of Refrigeration Technology

Digitalization is a technological paradigm shift that is transforming our lives, and is set to have a compelling impact on the cold chain.




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HVAC Drives Technology Boosts Data and Safety

Location isn’t everything, but it helps. Just ask homeowners selling their property, or restaurant owners. In the HVAC world, it also rings true for some motors and drives and the professionals who work with them. That includes contractors, even if maybe not in the way that one would expect. Some current and next-gen drives will make location matter in a new way: Contractors can spend more time further away from the equipment itself.




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Refrigeration Technologies LLC: Refrigeration Control

This product introduces two fan speeds to evaporator fans: low speed when no refrigerant is needed and high speed only during active cooling.




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Variable Speed Technology is Trending in Tomorrow’s Motors

Here is the trending technology that three motor manufacturers are saying will improve the future of motors in HVAC.




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How Inverter Technology Revolutionized HVAC Systems

Inverter technology is being incorporated into a wider range of HVAC systems, allowing the equipment to operate at lower speeds and consume less energy, which results in significant energy savings and lower carbon emissions.




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Air Movement Technologies, Regulations Shape Market Trends

Current trends are pointing toward unprecedented technological advances in the air movement sector.




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AMCA to Present Free Webinars on Air-System Engineering, Technology

AMCA will launch the Air System Engineering and Technology (ASET) series of free webinars on topics impacting air systems in buildings.




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Enginia North America, a brand of Herr Technologies LLC: Air Handler Safety Handle

This patented hinge/handle system allows an air handler door to be opened in either direction or removed completely.




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Condenser Technology Aims for Convenience, Quiet Operation

A look around the world of condensers these days shows three factors driving changes.




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Harnessing Technology for HVAC

The average tech thinks the service department is a giant money maker when in reality it is typically the least profitable part of a contractor’s business.




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Navigating Technology Adoption in the HVACR Trades

While new technology can certainly help streamline certain aspects of HVAC business operations, like accounting and inventory management, it still needs to be viewed as a tool to augment the capabilities of employees, not replace them entirely.




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Technology Enables HVAC Contractors to Crack Down on Distracted Driving

The advent of smartphones has made life both simpler and more complicated for people around the world.




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Critical Environment Technologies Canada Inc.: Gas Detectors

This product line is designed for continuous gas monitoring in multiple application settings.




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HVACR Technology and the Five Senses

How do refrigeration products continue to spread through everyday life, and what could be in store for the grocery sector in particular?




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Grocery Store Features New A2L Refrigeration Technology

A New Hampshire grocer installed the innovative FlexCube refrigeration system, a modular technology using the A2L refrigerant R-454C, in his new store.




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New Sales Director at LG’s A/C Technologies Division

Sean Foster will oversee the distribution sales team responsible for expanding LG’s market share in the residential and light commercial HVAC sectors.




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Revolutionizing Comfort: How Advanced HVAC Technology Is Transforming Living Conditions

Since its inception, air conditioning has saved lives and driven technological innovation – take a deep dive into its transformative role.




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Valent Air Management Systems, a business of Unison Comfort Technologies: Commercial Makeup Air Units

Heat-only, direct-fired, and indirect-fired makeup air units have been added to the company’s product line. 




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The Top 10 Myths of Ductless Technology

Some beliefs, like Greek mythology, last for generations because they contain a valuable lesson. Others, like these, are just ready to become ancient history.




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Technology, Efficiency Spur Variable Refrigerant Flow Market Growth

Both commercial facilities and residential domiciles are taking advantage of heating and cooling technology at accelerated rates.




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Manufacturers Help Contractors Keep up with Heat Pump Technology as Market Grows

Manufacturers and contractors are working to educate end users about the ways heat pumps work differently from traditional heat sources.




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Energy Savings, New Technology, Incentives: The Market for Geothermal is Heating Up

Though geothermal systems can cost several times more than traditional HVAC units, the energy savings may be substantial.




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See What’s Possible at the New UTC Innovation and Technology Center

United Technologies Corp. (UTC), the parent company of Carrier Corp., recently opened the new UTC Center for Intelligent Buildings in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.




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Advanced Refrigeration Technologies Boosting Energy Efficiency in Supermarkets

In supermarkets, where HVAC and refrigeration equipment use 50 to 60 percent of all electricity consumed, new technologies and advanced control strategies have been developed to help boost energy efficiency as well as reduce emissions.




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Technology Investments For HVAC Contractors Pay in Time Saved

HVAC contractors could invest in all kinds of technology, ranging from tools to management systems, but often, the question lies with the payoff.




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Bluetooth Technology, Battery Strength Earn ManTooth the Gold

The ManTooth™ Wireless Digital Pressure/Temperature Gauge from Yellow Jacket Products Division, Ritchie Engineering Co., is this year's gold winner in the Electronic Tools category.




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New Sensor Technology Leads to Better Presence Detection

New thermopile sensors save energy and increase safety when applied within the construction and property sectors.




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Growing Trends in Tool Technology Bring Benefits for Technicians

Technological developments are consistently improving the tools technicians have to use.




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Distributor’s Gamble on VRF Technology Continues Paying Off 3 Decades Later

A visit to an ASHRAE event 30-plus years ago introduced David Heckler to VRF technology, and the distributor was won over. VRF systems now make up about half of his company’s business.




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Time to Recommend Comfortable, Efficient Hydronic Technology

Here in the Santa Fe, New Mexico, area — and all across the nation, it seems — everyone wants to be “green.”




techno

Internet of Things Advancements Improve HVAC Equipment, Service Technology

The Internet of Things is a broad term with multiple definitions, likely stemming from the different sectors of technology that IoT impacts.




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Controls-Con Tackles Digital Technology and Building Automation

Controls-Con, presented by Cochrane Supply on May 5-7, 2021, discussed the impact of smart controls on the building industry.




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Age, Technology Dictate Building Controls Lifespan

While a controls upgrade may be costly, the reality is, the longer you wait, the more expensive a replacement can be.




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HVAC Technologies Offer Solutions For Improved Energy Use in Home

Contractors have numerous options for offering homeowners solutions in energy management systems.




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How to Sell Heat Pump Technology

There are numerous factors for this trend, including energy efficiency, government incentives, and technology improvement. But HVAC contractors are still the boots on the ground in this electrification mission.




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SE-Radio Episode 355: Randy Shoup Scaling Technology and Organization

Randy Shoup talks with SE-Radio’s Travis Kimmel about how to scale technology and organizations together, so that an organization can move faster as they grow (and not slow down). Their discussion covers how to effectively scale culture, process...




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SE Radio 607: John Frandsen on Geospatial Technologies

John Frandsen, Chief Product officer for Elebase, joins host Jeff Doolittle for an exploration of geospatial technologies. The conversation begins with a discussion of the history of mapping and global information systems (GIS) technologies. John describes the underlying technologies used in location-aware applications and the ways that developers can incorporate maps in their own applications. The conversation also highlights recent changes and innovations in the space, as well as the challenges and opportunities of incorporating your own data into existing base map providers. This episode is sponsored by WorkOS.




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Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part I: The Definition


In this four-part series, I’ll define blended learning, discuss the models of blended learning, the implications for career and technical education, and how the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery (CADD) areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning.

Technology has created a personalized access to the world where we can connect and learn… where we can create and share.  Almost every aspect of our lives have been changed by technology, except... education.

Over the last few years, I’ve entered into blended learning discussions with various people, including educators, and I’m always surprised at their perception of blended learning.  Many believe blended learning occurs when any type of computer-based learning takes place within the classroom.  In many instances, I would define what is occurring as technology-rich instruction, but there is a difference.

Blended learning is the combination of online learning and brick and mortar schools with teachers who enable students to learn at their own pace.  Why is this important?  Because many students learn in different ways and this allows each student to optimize their learning.  Quite simply, the purpose of blended learning is to take the best of traditional education and blend it with the power of online learning which allows for a more personalized and interactive learning experience.  Each teacher has the opportunity to review data, in the moment, and determine where the student is at and to form instruction for the next period or the next day.  Blended learning also puts the student in charge of their own learning which, to me, is a very valuable lesson in itself.

According to the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Education, blended learning “goes beyond one-to-one computers and high-tech gadgets. Blended learning involves leveraging the Internet to afford each student a more personalized learning experience, including increased student control over the time, place, path, and/or pace of learning.

The definition of blended learning is a formal education program in which a student learns:


at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace;




at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home;




and the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience.”

See more at: http://www.christenseninstitute.org/blended-learning/#sthash.AWqDXtoh.dpuf

The key difference between blended learning and other forms of education is on its emphasis on personalized learning.  The International Association for Online Learning (iNACOL) defines personalized learning as, “Tailoring learning for each student’s strengths, needs and interests–including enabling student voice and choice in what, how, when and where they learn–to provide flexibility and supports to ensure mastery of the highest standards possible.” As you can see, the two definitions overlap, but blending learning adds online learning and leveraging the internet to personalize an individual’s learning experience.

Next- Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part II: Blended Learning Models




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Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part II: Blended Learning Models


In this four-part series, I’ll define blended learning, discuss the models of blended learning, the implications for career and technical education, and how the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery (CADD) areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning.

As I mentioned in the first post in this series, technology has created a personalized access to the world where we can connect and learn… where we can create and share.  Almost every aspect of our lives have been changed by technology, except... education.

I believe blended learning can have a profound effect upon career and technology education in many instructional ways which will be discussed in the next post.  There are certain elements of blended learning that already occur in CTE and some may be doing an excellent job as I write this, but I’m not aware of research that helps decide if one model works better with any certain occupational area (if you know of any research in this area, PLEASE SHARE!!).

The Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Education defines blended learning as “a formal education program in which the student learns:

(1) at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace;

(2) at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home;

(3) and the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience.”

The Models 

The majority of blended-learning programs resemble one of four models: Rotation, Flex, A La Carte, and Enriched Virtual. The Rotation model includes four sub-models: Station Rotation, Lab Rotation, Flipped Classroom, and Individual Rotation.

1. Rotation model — a course or subject in which students rotate on a fixed schedule or at the teacher’s discretion between learning modalities, at least one of which is online learning. Other modalities might include activities such as small-group or full-class instruction, group projects, individual tutoring, and pencil-and-paper assignments. The students learn mostly on the brick-and-mortar campus, except for any homework assignments.

a. Station Rotation — a course or subject in which students experience the Rotation model within a contained classroom or group of classrooms. The Station Rotation model differs from the Individual Rotation model because students rotate through all of the stations, not only those on their custom schedules.

b. Lab Rotation – a course or subject in which students rotate to a computer lab for the online-learning station.

c. Flipped Classroom – a course or subject in which students participate in online learning off-site in place of traditional homework and then attend the brick-and-mortar school for face-to-face, teacher-guided practice or projects. The primary delivery of content and instruction is online, which differentiates a Flipped Classroom from students who are merely doing homework practice online at night.

d. Individual Rotation – a course or subject in which each student has an individualized playlist and does not necessarily rotate to each available station or modality. An algorithm or teacher(s) sets individual student schedules.

2. Flex model — a course or subject in which online learning is the backbone of student learning, even if it directs students to offline activities at times. Students move on an individually customized, fluid schedule among learning modalities. The teacher of record is on-site, and students learn mostly on the brick-and-mortar campus, except for any homework assignments. The teacher of record or other adults provide face-to-face support on a flexible and adaptive as-needed basis through activities such as small-group instruction, group projects, and individual tutoring. Some implementations have substantial face-to-face support, whereas others have minimal support. For example, some Flex models may have face-to-face certified teachers who supplement the online learning on a daily basis, whereas others may provide little face-to-face enrichment. Still others may have different staffing combinations. These variations are useful modifiers to describe a particular Flex model.

3. A La Carte model — a course that a student takes entirely online to accompany other experiences that the student is having at a brick-and-mortar school or learning center. The teacher of record for the A La Carte course is the online teacher. Students may take the A La Carte course either on the brick-and-mortar campus or off-site. This differs from full-time online learning because it is not a whole-school experience. Students take some courses A La Carte and others face-to-face at a brick-and-mortar campus.

4. Enriched Virtual model — a course or subject in which students have required face-to-face learning sessions with their teacher of record and then are free to complete their remaining coursework remote from the face-to-face teacher. Online learning is the backbone of student learning when the students are located remotely. The same person generally serves as both the online and face-to-face teacher. Many Enriched Virtual programs began as full-time online schools and then developed blended programs to provide students with brick-and-mortar school experiences. The Enriched Virtual model differs from the Flipped Classroom because in Enriched Virtual programs, students seldom meet face-to-face with their teachers every weekday. It differs from a fully online course because face-to-face learning sessions are more than optional office hours or social events; they are required.



Next- Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part III: Blended Learning Implications for CTE




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Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part III: Implications for Career and Technical Education


In this four-part series, I’ll define blended learning, discuss the models of blended learning, the implications for career and technical education, and how the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery (CADD) areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning.

Here are several ways that blended learning can have a profound effect upon career and technology education:

Personalized instruction – Blended learning allows for a more personalized and interactive learning experience by putting the student in charge of their own learning.  Taking the best of traditional education and blending it with the power of online learning will provide the teacher an opportunity to review data, in the moment, determine where the student is at and to form instruction for the next period or the next day.

Increased monitoring – The use of a student information, assessment, and gradebook systems that link to the LMS provides instant feedback on assignments and assessments.  This allows the instructor to spend time reviewing student data, adjust instruction, and provide additional classroom or individual instruction. 

Open entry/Open exit – Blended learning fits nicely with competency-based learning and the concept of open entry/open exit.  Personalized instruction and increased monitoring will allow the instructor to more accurately determine when tasks and competencies are achieved.

Increased enrollments – Depending on the blended learning model and the CTE program being offered, enrollments could potentially be increased.

Increased performance gains – “The Rise of K–12 Blended Learning - Profiles of emerging models” by Heather Staker profiles 40 educational entities. Not every school reported gains and some thought it was too early to verify results, but many posted positive gains when compared to the traditional classrooms within the same district.  For example:

“School of One - Students in summer 2009 acquired new math skills at a rate estimated to be
seven times faster than peers. Students in spring 2010 showed gains that, when
annualized, would equate to 1/2 to 2/3 of an additional year of gain. Students in
spring 2010 showed significant gains across all academic quartiles.”

Other potential benefits from this study include increased retention rates, an increase in teacher/parent contacts, increased course completion rates, a strengthening of curriculum offerings, and lower instructional costs.

As you can see, blended learning can have the potential to benefit the student, the instructor, and the parents in a careertech setting.  Again, I’m not aware of any research that helps decide if one model works better with any certain occupational area (if you know of any research in this area, PLEASE SHARE!!).




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Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part IV: Implementing Blended Learning With Resources from the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education



In this four-part series, I’ll define blended learning, discuss the models of blended learning, the implications for career and technical education, and how the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery (CADD) areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning.

Photo courtesy of the Clayton Christensen Institute
Blended learning is a shift to an online instructional delivery for a portion of the day to make students, teachers, and schools more productive, both academically and financially.  We all know there’s no single right approach to building the “perfect” model for blended learning as communities have different resources, classrooms, computers, schedules, and many other unique needs.  A school doesn’t always have the resources or the expertise to select and purchase a learning management system (LMS), design lessons, or write assessments, but there are available resources.

Did you know that the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning?  The National Technology Plan acknowledges the challenges of raising college and career-ready standards without a significant investment of new funding so check out our online catalog and search the following links for additional information and see how we can assist you in blending digital and teacher led instruction to personalize learning for each student.







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Technology in Schools Questionnaire

Film Education is developing exciting projects for the next academic year and we want to find the best way of delivering these to you. Please complete this brief survey to let us know what you think.




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Coach's Corner: Can Technology Sharpen Your Focus?

Dan gets honest about how to sharpen your focus which often involves a shocking concept: not multitasking.




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FLEET Response Selects Encircle as a Technology Partner

Integration will help improve the company's ERPs.




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Optimizing Water Damage Restoration through Modern Technologies

Michael Vervena gives us tips on navigating water damage restoration and the adoption of technology to document the damage and streamline insurance claims.